45. The Happy Gate of Heaven

Fair are the portals of the day,
The gateways of the morning,
Whose pillared clouds the rising sun,
Is rosily adorning:
Fair are the portals of the day.
The gateways of the even,
When through long halls of burning light
Earth gazes into heaven.
Of matchless light, of grace untold,
All love be thine, fair House of Gold
All praise to thee be given.
Sweet Balm of all our Sadness,
Dear Cause of all our Gladness,
Thou Happy Gate of Heaven!

Fair are the passes in the hills.
The gateways of the mountains.
Along whose sounding channels leap
The many-gifted fountains:
Fair are the thresholds of blue sea,
The gateways of the ocean.
That guard the harbors of the earth,
Swinging with placid motion.
Of matchless light, of grace untold,
All love be thine, fair House of Gold!
All praise to thee be given,
Sweet Balm of all our Sadness,
Dear Cause of all our Gladness,
Thou Happy Gate of Heaven!

But fairest of all gateways far,
Art thou, the sinless Mary!
The Gate that opens, yet secures
God's inmost sanctuary!
Gate of the one true Dawn art thou,
Gate of the one sweet Even,
Gate of the angels into earth,
The gate of souls to heaven.
Of matchless light, of grace untold,
All love be thine, fair House of Gold!
All praise to thee be given.
Sweet Balm of all our Sadness,
Dear Cause of all our Gladness,
Thou Happy Gate of Heaven!

Thou art the Gate God entered by
To visit His creation.
The mountain-pass where leap and flow
The wells of our salvation:
Thou art the Gate of azure sea
With the lighthouse ever burning,
The exile's happy Landing-Place,
To his Father's House returning.
Of matchless light, of grace untold,
All love be thine, fair House of Gold!
All praise to thee be given,
Sweet Balm of all our Sadness,
Dear Cause of all our Gladness,
Thou Happy Gate of Heaven!

Bright Gateway! through whose golden arch
The Father's grace is flowing.
Whose steps the Son and Spirit wear
With their incessant going!
Porch of the Throne! what beauteous hosts
Of angels cluster round thee!
O happy are the sleeping souls
Whose faith and love have found thee!
Of matchless light, of grace untold.
All love be thine, fair House of Gold!
All praise to thee be given,
Sweet Balm of all our Sadness,
Dear Cause of all our Gladness,
Thou Happy Gate of Heaven!